Turkish Hostage Crisis Ends

Author

Global Recap
February 01, 2024 • Read in: 8 minutes

Hi Global Recap readers,

We start today with a story of a tense hostage situation in Turkey.

It’s really ironic the more you read it…

Also: Remember this meme you’ve seen circulating?

Consider it outdated. Today’s in-depth story proves that trouble doesn’t need China as a next-door neighbor.

🌐 Around the World

  • 🇹🇷 Turkish Hostage Crisis Ends

  • 🚀 US to Strike Iranian Targets

  • 🎸 Rock Band Escapes Russia

  • 💰 IMF Backs Argentina

  • 🇨🇳 Invisible Invasion of US

🇹🇷 Turkish Hostage Crisis Ends

The hostage taker standing next to a graffitied wall that says, “The gates will open. Either musalla or death for Gaza.”

A pro-Palestinian gunman who took seven workers hostage at a Procter & Gamble plant near Istanbul was arrested by Turkish police on Thursday.

  • Demand: The gunman demanded an end to Israel’s war in Gaza and the opening of the Rafah border crossing for humanitarian aid.

  • Duration: The standoff lasted for nearly nine hours until the police raided the facility when the gunman took a bathroom break.

  • Casualties: No one was harmed in the operation and the hostages were freed safely.

  • Actions: The gunman wore a makeshift explosives belt and a headscarf with the Turkish and Palestinian flags. He also graffitied the wall with slogans supporting Gaza.

🚀 US Plans to Hit Iran

Here are the latest happenings with the US in the Middle East.

  • Retaliation: The US is planning to directly attack Iranian personnel and facilities in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for a drone attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan. This is contrary to the consensus that the US will only target Iranian proxies in the region.

  • Evacuation: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards are pulling out their senior officers from Syria amid Israeli strikes.

  • Ceasefire: Qatar and Egypt are mediating a proposal for a 40-day truce in Gaza.

  • Sanctions: Biden issued an executive order to punish Israeli settlers who attack Palestinians in the West Bank, signaling displeasure with Netanyahu.

🎸 Rock Band Escapes Russia

UPDATE: A Russian rock band that criticized Moscow’s war in Ukraine has arrived in Israel after being deported from Thailand under suspected Kremlin pressure.

  • Arrest: The band, Bi-2, was arrested in Phuket for allegedly not having proper working papers and sent to a Bangkok jail.

  • Pressure: Human rights activists say Russia tried to get the band extradited to face persecution at home.

  • Support: Israeli, American, and Australian diplomats, as well as human rights organizations, helped the band to leave Thailand for Israel.

💰 IMF Backs Argentina

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) greenlights a whopping €4.7 billion ($5 billion) for Argentina. This financial boost is in support of the bold economic reforms initiated by President Javier Milei.

  • Bold Moves: Milei’s government is taking drastic steps to restore macroeconomic stability. This includes

    • devaluing the peso by over 50%;

    • slashing government subsidies; and

    • deregulating the economy.

  • Backlash: Despite the promise of economic recovery, these austerity measures have sparked protests.

United States

China’s Invisible Invasion of US

🔒 US Cybersecurity. The FBI Director has issued a stark warning about the Chinese Communist Party (CCP):

“China’s hackers are positioning on American infrastructure in preparation to wreak havoc and cause real-world harm to American citizens and communities, if or when China decides the time has come to strike.”

FBI Director Christopher Wray told the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party on Wednesday, January 30, 2024.

👨‍💻 Hackers. The CCP-backed hackers are known as Volt Typhoon. They exploited privately owned small routers infected with “KV botnet” malware, which masked their hacking activities carried out against the citizens of the United States.

  • It has been active since mid-2021.

  • It was announced by Microsoft in May 2023.

🎯 Why It Matters. The focus of these cyberattacks is not random. Critical infrastructure such as water treatment plants, electrical grids, oil and natural gas pipelines, and transportation systems are being targeted.

🌐 Past Instances. Chinese hackers have been actively spying on US critical infrastructure organizations for years now.

DJI Mavic Air 2 drone

  • Drones: Laws passed by the Chinese government since 2015 require Chinese companies to provide the government with access to data collected globally. Therefore, Chinese-made drones, such as those produced by DJI—which dominate the global market for commercial drones—are not considered “safe.” This concern led to the US Army’s ban on their use in 2017.

  • Routers: In addition to disrupting operations within large civilian infrastructures, the FBI also disrupted the CCP’s efforts to inject malware into the internet routers of hundreds of outdated Cisco and NetGear routers of homes and businesses.

  • Others: Hackers also infiltrated a water facility in Hawaii and Texas’ power grid.

🔥 Aftermath. The fallout from this situation could have far-reaching implications. It’s not just about national security - it’s about economic security, public health, and safety.

For those interested, here’s the full hearing: